JAN 2021: A New Year Begins
JAN 2021: A New Year Begins Plus open calls, a job opp, and a Wikipedia party View this email in your browser
It’s 2021. You know that by now. But what’s in store for us is still unspooling. The Media Lab had a remarkable 2020, taking on big questions and moving quickly to adjust to the new virtual world. This year, we’ve got a big challenge ahead.
But we’re up for it. We’ve got a great team — welcome Sindi Mafico! And great programs. Happy Birthday to Wikipedia — we hope to see you at our virtual event this Friday. So here’s to an important year ahead. Let us know how we can work with you to explore and innovate.
Steven Rosenbaum
Executive Director
NYC Media Lab
steve@nycmedialab.org NEW & NOTEWORTHY NYC Media Lab Welcomes Sindi Mafico!
Over the years, NYC Media Lab has been home to some extraordinary students — and this year’s program assistant is a fantastic addition to that cohort. Sindiso Mafico was born in Zimbabwe, raised in Swaziland, and now lives in Brooklyn. She’s known as Sindi, and her infectious smile and ability to make connections brings to the Media Lab new perspectives and ideas.
Prior to joining the Lab, Sindi studied at Skidmore College where she received her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a double minor in international affairs and media studies. Sindi is a digital creator, filmmaker, photographer, and dancer, and has worked with organizations including the Media Institute for Social Change and Viacom. She’s currently a student at NYU Wagner pursuing her master’s in public administration, specializing in social impact, investment, and innovation.
We’re excited to welcome Sindi to the NYC Media Lab team! She is truly a global citizen and you can expect to see Sindi’s work in our social media, as we grow our outreach and look to connect in new and innovative ways. Please reach out and say hi — she’s going to be an important part of the Media Lab team in the year ahead. NYC Media Lab Celebrates Wikipedia’s 20th Birthday!
January 15, 2021 marks Wikipedia’s 20th birthday and we’re celebrating with some of the brightest minds in media. Join us on January 15 at 1pm ET for a virtual chat with Wikimedia Foundation CEO Katherine Maher and host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour, Manoush Zomorodi.
Manoush and Katherine will talk about Wikipedia’s role in the ongoing fight against mis and disinformation, address some of the biggest misconceptions you hear about Wikipedia, and discuss how research and knowledge sharing may change over the next 20 years. Free RSVP. APPLY NOW: NYCML Synthetic Media & Exploring the Future of Storytelling Challenge
We’re calling on current grad students to help us explore new ways we can make media content more relevant, memorable, and engaging using machine learning, GANs, computer vision, and other emerging tech.
This semester-long program aims to explore how emerging synthetic media production techniques and technologies might impact the future of storytelling, and give form and expression to early stage concepts.
- WHO’S ELIGIBLE: University-affiliated teams (at least one member of the team must be a current graduate student or faculty member)
- AWARD: Each selected university team will receive a grant of up to $5,000
- APPLICATION & MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/nycmlgans2021
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 22 by 11:59pm ET
Drops + Havas + Jeezy
Drops + Havas + Jeezy
On January 5, Drops collaborated with multi-platinum Atlanta recording artist Jeezy, his team at Agency99, Havas, The Annex, and Tony’s Chocolonely to create an exclusive AR experience for social good by encouraging voter participation in the Georgia special election.
This campaign made exclusive content available through QR-enabled signage at 8 select polling locations around Atlanta as well as via geofenced links on Jeezy’s social media. The AR Drop experience consisted of a Jeezy branded 3D snowman, link to an exclusive Jeezy podcast, and a floating video wall which played a thank you message from the artist. The Drop is now available nationwide for anyone to experience through this link. (Open on mobile & note the access code at the end of the floating message, GAVOTE.)
This Drop is the continuation of new work as the company pushes beyond its early days as AudioDrops and blossoms into a fully realized AR solution now called Drops. Spurred by Drops’ participation in the NYC Media Lab x Havas Future of Retail Challenge, these AR experiences allow partners to easily turn 3D assets and sound/video files into geofenced multi-sensory AR experiences.
The campaign illustrates the potential of merging the physical and digital worlds for promotional and business objectives — and we think the way Jeezy used the platform for an important cause was very cool.
OPEN CALL: NYCML x ASCAP Immersive Music Studio Challenge
We’re excited to work with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) to launch the NYC Media Lab & ASCAP Immersive Music Studio Challenge.
We’re seeking startups and university teams eager to explore new ways artists can create music, connect with their fans, and interact with sound. How can we reimagine the experience of music using AR, VR, spatial audio, GANs, LiDAR, and avatars? What’s possible now that wasn’t before? More info at-a-glance:
- WHO’S ELIGIBLE: Startups & university-affiliated teams
- AWARD: Each selected team will receive a grant of up to $5,000
- APPLICATION & MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/ascap2021
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 29 by 11:59pm ET
Sign up for a virtual info session on January 14 or 20 to learn more from the NYC Media Lab & ASCAP Lab team. Questions? Email us at info@nycmedialab.org. Not One but Two Opportunities With Consumer Reports
Opportunity #1: Design Future for a Consumer Data Co-Op
US consumers have little control over the collection and sale of their personal data, which leads to profiling, manipulation, price discrimination, and other practices that cut against consumers’ best interests. Regulations such as CA’s CCPA and Europe’s GDPR introduce new data rights that seek to restore power to individuals, but also depend on consumers’ practical ability and motivation to exercise these rights.
Consumer Reports Digital Lab is calling on designers, researchers, academics, technologists, and innovation strategists to respond to the question: Assuming consumers can compel companies to share their data with a trusted third party, what are some potential applications for consumer data cooperatives in 2030? Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis until mid-January. Learn more & apply.
Opportunity #2: Research Assistant / R&D Program Support
Consumer Reports is seeking a researcher with great communication skills to join the Digital Lab team on a contract basis. This is a good opportunity for an early career technologist who wants to work on an experimental product, or a mid- or late-career professional looking to get experience in public interest technology for the first time. More info. VIRTUAL EVENTS JAN 21: Improving Social Media: Content Moderation
Content moderation has been a hot issue — it greatly impacts the way people communicate on social media. What content should be allowed and what shouldn’t? How open and transparent should platforms be about how they make these decisions? What about the wellbeing of moderators who are viewing disturbing content?
Join All Tech Is Human founder David Ryan Polgar on January 21 at 1pm ET as he moderates a highly-interactive livestream conversation with two leading experts on content moderation: Sarah T. Roberts (co-founder & co-director of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry) and Murtaza Shaikh (senior advisor on hate speech, social media, and minorities to UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues). Register for free.
COMMIT BY JAN 31: Virtual Device Clean Up Party
Join the Tech Women Network and commit to cleaning up your devices by January 31! Follow along for tips and set your own goals. Go at your own pace from the comfort of your own home. Device clean-up tasks may include: resetting your passwords, applying software updates, organizing your files and photos, and/or reviewing and upgrading your storage space.
In the words of TWN, “Make it fun and get it done.” Are you in?
DEADLINE EXTENDED! SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL FOR OPEN DATA WEEK 2021
Every year, New Yorkers come together across the 5 boroughs to celebrate the City’s Open Data Law, which was signed into law on March 7, 2012. Coincidentally, the first weekend of March 2021 is also International Open Data Day. Together, both dates will anchor NYC’s Open Data Week as we aim to increase civic engagement with our municipal open data.
The NYC Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics and BetaNYC are looking for virtual event ideas, and where appropriate, socially-distanced outdoor experiences. They’re seeking ideas that are engaging, filled with learnings, or help build a stronger community around open municipal data. Submit your ideas for interactive workshops, panels, talks, trainings, or hackathons. There’s no need to have a fully fleshed out proposal in order to submit, and you’re invited to submit more than one idea!
The deadline for submissions has been extended to January 14 at 10pm ET. Learn more and submit. KEEP IN TOUCH
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